On a Quest for Peace, I Found Life — Michelle Blan

Labor Day weekend was filled with lots of time outdoors for my family. In fact, on two of the three days, we went fishing at the local pier 🎣. Now, if you know me, then you probably know how I feel about fishing — which means that I didn’t go “fishing” for the sport of it. Instead, I let those I love indulge themselves in it while I sat back and inhaled the fresh air.

There is just something about the Atlantic Ocean. 🌊 In the past, I have stood on the pier (or the shore), looking out over the the seemingly endless ocean, slowly getting swept away. Its almost hypnotizing. Not to mention that it is all a part of so many memories for me – including the sounds, the smells, the sights. All of it. 😍

Who wouldn’t want to get lost here!?

This particular weekend, however, was a bit different. At first, I was quick to assume it was everyone else. Even found myself momentarily thrown off a bit. Logically speaking, it had to be me. Here’s what happened.

We got to the pier, found our nice (socially distanced😷) spot and began to set up shop. Well, Tina and the boys did. Like I said, fishing is not my thing – and neither is playing with hooks and bait. What did I do? Immediately, I walk up to the wooden railing and stared out over the ocean. 🦈 I was allowing myself to drift off… wherever it was going to take me. Except something happened.

I didn’t go anywhere. In fact, I couldn’t even allow myself disappear for a few into the water (mentally, of course) because the noise was so loud around me.

Have you ever been to the beach and had the wind blow past you creating the sound of white noise? This is almost always the case on the pier. But, this weekend, it was not. I could hear everything. Well, everything but my inner thoughts. 💭

The time with God I was hoping to encounter was drowned out by yelps, laughter, and music. 🎶 There was so much going on at the beach that I couldn’t focus on losing focus. Make sense? I guess you could compare it to trying to meditate at a circus. It’s not so easy.

Finally, as we neared the end of the 2nd day, something came to me. Here I showed up looking for peace and all I got was noise. But, that noise is LIFE! Children having fun and families laughing together and splashing in the water. Memories being made. It’s all life.

And, taking it all the way back to the beginning of time, God created this life. 🌎

The the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

Genesis 2:7

It all made sense. I stopped looking for the peace and quiet and started smiling at all that was going on around me. Even closing my eyes to take it all in. We are these tiny beings created by an awesome God to spread joy and love (amongst other things, too). So often God reminds us of things in the most basic ways – it is just up to us to realize it.

I don’t know any of those people on that beach this weekend, but I do hope that their hearts are as full as the heart of this outsider.

Until next time… ❤